Levels of 210Po and 210Pb in fish and molluscs in Slovenia and the related dose assessment to the population

Abstract

210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations in fish from the Slovenian part of Adriatic Sea, in the vicinity of a former uranium mine at Žirovski vrh and from the Slovenian market were determined. In addition, 210Po and 210Pb activity concentrations in squid from the Slovenian market and in mussels from the Slovenian part of the Adriatic Sea were also determined. Fish, squid and mussel consumption in Slovenia was assessed from the data available from Eurostat and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the data used for the corresponding dose calculation. Fish species with the highest activity concentrations were grilled to assess possible loss of 210Po during the food preparation process. Samples were freeze dried and radiochemical separation of 210Po and 210Pb was performed. Measurements of 210Po were performed by alpha spectrometry and 210Pb by a low background gas-flow proportional counter. 210Po activity concentrations in fish, squid and mussels were from 0.039 to 35.0 Bq kg −1 fresh weight and 210Pb activity concentrations were from 0.08 to 3.03 Bq kg −1 fresh weight. Grilling of fish resulted in no significant loss of 210Po at 90 °C. The assessed combined annual effective ingestion dose due to 210Po and 210Pb for fish, squid and mussels consumed in Slovenia is 47.6 μSv year −1.